Looking back at Columbia 2008

MU budget cuts, Pres.-elect Barack Obama’s campaign stop in Columbia and Boone County Fire Protection District Chief Steve Paulsell’s “forced” resignation are a few of 2008’s top stories in Columbia.
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With poor market, Columbia recyclables pile up

I just wanted to point this out to those of you — myself included — who fill those blue bags or use those big tan bins. Going green is piling up instead of paying off in Columbia. And, it may mean the city will have to lease out space to accomodate all those water bottles [...]

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Funding hard to find for repairs to Boone County private dams

Wednesday’s story about the Welch Lake earthen dam just outside Columbia’s city limits that is in need of some costly repairs was a follow up to a story I wrote a couple of months ago.
The dam’s been in disrepair for about a decade, but the dam’s owner, Danny Miller, said he doesn’t have the estimated [...]

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Condoms and texting, a little news for students in Rock Quarry

A perusal of Columbiamissourian.com this morning would kick up two items that may be interest of to students living in the Grindstone-Rock Quarry neighborhood. Texting and condoms.
Missourian higher education reporter Sarah Flagg reported on the problems posed by texting and driving. While the story is framed around reputable research conducted in the United Kingdom, Flagg [...]

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Nifong, Bearfield intersection could become four-way stop

The Columbia City Council approved a motion to draft an ordinance to reduce the speed limit on Bearfield Road to 35 mph and turn the intersection of Bearfield and Nifong Boulevard into a four-way stop.
At its meeting Monday night, the council received a report dated Nov. 20 indicating the need for a four-way stop because [...]

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Newspaper profits: not as bad as you may think

I know this post is a little dated (a week is a long time on the Web), but in case you haven’t seen this blog post on the Gannett Blog (not affiliated with the newspaper company) here’s the skinny on what “dying” newspapers are taking home. Hint: It’s in the millions.
Click here.

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Finding a loophole

I want to point you to Mike Martin’s The Columbia Heart Beat blog to read this article he published a little while ago.
“The Columbia City Council has voted to question Boone County assessor Tom Schauwecker about large property tax breaks his office provides developers that appear unjustified at best; egregious at worst. The breaks appear [...]

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Pinkel inks $2.3 million annual salary

UM System Board of Curators unanimously approved MU football coach Gary Pinkel’s new contract that will pay him $2.3 million a year for seven years.
ESPN reported last week that a $2.5 million annual salary deal was in the works.
Pinkel negotiated a contract last year to the tune of $1.85 million per year through 2012.
More details [...]

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Pile on the dire economic news

Bad news on the doorstep…
Dana Corp. announced it will lay off 50 workers at its Columbia plant. The factory makes axles and other parts for Nissan, Ford and General Motors.
MU announced guidelines on its hiring freeze, including that the freeze will apply to graduate teaching assistants and student staff. MU Chancellor Brady Deaton outlined criteria [...]

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Deaton clarifies UM System hiring freeze conditions at MU

The UM System-wide hiring freeze will not apply to fully-funded grant and contract positions, fully-endowed positions or work study student positions at MU, Chancellor Brady Deaton said in a e-mail Tuesday.
No other positions will be filled unless the department can meet seven criteria showing sufficient need for the position. High-level administrators will have final say [...]

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